Time was when bring comics to the screen was almost guaranteed to be a failure unless the story was done as animation. However the growing vocabulary of CGI has changed that, and, while comics continue to buck the general downturn in publishing, we are likely to see even more movie projects based on the world of comics.
The trend toward darker stories appears to be continuing, with classic heros becoming edgy. Batman is undoubtedly the most famous of these transformed character; the crew from The Watchmen the best-known of those created in this style. Have a look at Superman, first of the superheros, as re-envisioned for newer times, and wonder where, now that times are much like those it which he was created, he will be going next.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has acquired a previously unpublished work by J.R.R. Tolkien, written during the 1920s and ’30s. The house will publish The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún in the U.S. and worldwide on May 5. The book is a retelling of classic Norse stories, written before he wrote his famous fiction, during his time as a professor at Oxford. There will be an introduction by Christopher Tolkien, who is mining his father's papers.

This is the version released in theaters in the US, with a score by Tangerine Dream, Jon Anderson, and Brian Ferry; the director's cut version and the European version have the original score by Jerry Goldsmith. Featuring Tom Cruise, Tim Curry, and a lot of body costumes and heavy makeup. Rich in quotable moments: "Where are we?" "Someplace we don't want to be."

Borders announced Friday afternoon that the deadline for Pershing Square Capital Management to acquire Paperchase and the repayment of the $42.5 million loan have both been extended until April 15. The struggling company plans to release final results for 2008 on March 31; a conference call is set for April 1.